The Problem with Being Untouchable | The Last of Us and Preserving Eights

In this episode of The Enneagram in a Movie podcast, Mario Sikora and TJ Dawe dive into an episode of the TV show, “The Last of Us,” starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, This episode from the first season, “Long, Long Time,” captures the Preserving Eight as it centers around Nick Offerman’s Bill, a Doomsday prepper, and his relationship to Frank, played by Murray Barlett. Their relationship is the heart of the show as it explores some of the complexity we see in humans such as nesting and nurturing.

“And we see this kind of handiness in Bill that is often very related to preservers in general, but Preserving Eights in particular. This competence. I know what the challenges are. I know what is needed to build and protect my castle and I’m going to do it.” - Mario [16:49]

“Being able to provide this guy with a shower, being able to give him new clothes, being able to give him a good meal, and pour wine correctly in a nice glass and serve it on nice dishes, that’s very much a Preserver’s expression of love.” - TJ [35:16]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:03] Intro

[00:23] This week’s topic

[04:38] Thoughts on episode

[06:59] Type Eight in Bill

[11:46] Bill’s letter

[16:02] Nesting and nurturing

[21:31] Pleasure in preserving things

[27:18] Scarcity begets selfishiness

[30:38] The heart of the episode

[36:10] Navigating Eight vs Transmitting Eight

[38:42] Other characters